International tourism recovered fully from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2024. Moreover, the industry shows continued strength in 2025. The data from UN Tourism shows the sector returned to pre-pandemic levels. In many cases, however, the visitor numbers exceeded past records. Strong demand, better connections, and investments in key destinations resulted in this growth.
A Banner Year: 2024 Marks Full Recovery
In 2024, the world welcomed nearly 1.5 billion international tourists. This was a 12.2% increase from 2023, which matched the record levels seen in 2019. This milestone marks a complete return from the sharp declines during the pandemic years.
Europe remained the most visited region. It accounted for over 43% of global arrivals with about 631 million visitors. Travel returned to the Mediterranean beaches and cultural cities, which helped the region.
France led the world with a historic 102 million arrivals. This was the first time any country crossed the 100 million mark. Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games boosted these numbers. Spain followed with 94 million visitors. Turkey also saw large gains. It welcomed 61 million tourists, up from 55 million in 2023. Turkey passed Italy, which recorded 58 million.
Asia saw the strongest regional growth with 303 million arrivals. This was a 35% jump from 225 million in 2023. Border reopenings and the return of travelers from China caused this increase. Japan benefited from this trend and attracted 37 million visitors. China saw 46 million inbound tourists. This number remains below its 2019 peak of 66 million.
North America recorded 137 million arrivals, up from 127 million. The United States recorded 72 million arrivals. This figure sits below its 2019 total of 79 million. This change highlights shifts in global travel patterns. Latin America and the Caribbean reached 79 million. Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil performed well. Africa grew to 74 million visitors. Interest in culture, nature, and safaris in sub-Saharan regions drove this growth. European travelers also visited North Africa more often.
The Middle East expanded to 101 million arrivals. Countries like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar invested heavily in tourism infrastructure. Oceania grew only slightly to 14 million. Long geographic distances limited its growth.
International tourism brought record economic gains in 2024. Export earnings reached $2 trillion. This sum includes receipts and passenger transport. It represents a 14% increase over 2019 levels.
Positive Trends Continue in 2025
This upward trend of international tourism continued into 2025. International arrivals grew 5% in the first half of the year compared to 2024. This equals nearly 690 million tourists from January to June. That number is 4% higher than the same period in 2019. However, geopolitical tensions and rising costs present challenges. But demand remained strong across most regions.
Visitor spending stayed high in early 2025 and built on 2024's records. The UN Tourism Confidence Index showed growing optimism. It rose to 120 points for the September-December period. This score signals renewed confidence among industry experts.
UN Tourism predicts 3-5% growth in international arrivals for the full year 2025. This forecast highlights the sector's strength. Tourism supports economies, jobs, and cultural exchange worldwide.
Travel continues to change. Destinations now focus on sustainable practices to manage growth responsibly. They also work to meet the lasting global desire for exploration.
